Process and article for producing moving pictures



Feb. 20, 1923. 1,446,123

0. F. LEDERER PROCESS AND ARTICLE FOR PRODUCING MOVING PICTI'JREs Filed June 25, 1919 2 sheets-sheefi1 UUUUUUUUUU UUUUUUUUUU ffilfclior 6 0/ F Leierer ieceased v fla/zcesflfederen W1 TNESSES v fldma m'sdm be: org/5Q 953m? A l Y'TOANE I Feb. 20; 1923. I 1,446,123.".

. c. F. LEDERER PROCESS AND ARTICLE FOR PRODUCING MOVING PICTURES Filed June 25, 1919 2 sheets-sheet 2 A TTORNEY Patent ed eh. 20, 1923,

UNITED STATES.

can]; 1*. LEDERER, nucnasnn, BY FRANCES s. LEDERER,

PATENT OFFICE, j

ADMINISTRATRIX, OF

nocnnsrna, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF T rnnnnmcx r; CHURCH,

OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

PROCESS AND ARTICLE roa PRODUCING MOVING rrc'rumas.

Application mm m 1919. Serial N6. 306,698.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be'it known that I, FRANoEs S. LEDERER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rochester in the county of Monroe and State of New of Carl ,F. Lederer, deceased, hereby declare that the said Carl F. Lederer invented new and useful Improvements in Processes and I Articles forProducing Moving Pictures, of WhlCh the following is a specification.

My invention relates to recesses of and articles for producing mov ng pictures and has for its object the production of moving pictures of cartoons or caricatures formed In a .novel way other than by producing drawings of the objects to be represented in the completed pictures. A further object of the invention is the production of animated cartoons or caricatures by the photographing of living actors and performers or other objects made up in such a manner that when photographed and projected upon a screen they will appear substantially as line-drawings or as cartoons or caricatures. A further object of the invention is the production of costumes and backgrounds designed in such a man'ner that photographs thereof when projected upon a screen will ap at substantially as line-drawings. and other ends the invention consists in certain improvements in. the'.art of making moving pictures, which" will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in'the claims at the end of the specification. 1

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view showing in outline upon a dark background the photograph of a flfi re made up in accordance with one form 4 0 my improved process;

Figure 2 represents the same figure photographed upon a light background;

Figure3 is another view of the same figure having on a dark costume with certain portions thereof outlined in white;

Figure 4 is a view of a dark background representing a room, the walls andother portions of which are outlined in white with a cartoon figure appearing therein also outlined in white, and

Figure 5, represents a photograph of a white background with the objects forming York, administratrix of the estate To t ese.

the backgroundand the animated figure of a man outlined in black.

By means of my invention'I am able to produce more rapidly and on a more practlcal scale, heretofore known and designated as .animated cartoons. The only methods known for producing the aforementioned class of pictures, prior to my process and inventionand discovery thereof, involved a great amount of labor, patience and time. The first production of animated cartoons of commercial value were produced by a procimmense number of separate drawings showing the cartoon characters in their respec tive, different, of motion. These drawings were then reproduced upon moving picture films. Later improvementsin this process were invented and patented which greatly facilitated the making of animated cartoons and made it pomible to bring this class of pictures before the patrons of the lower priced moving picture theatres.

While these later improvements were a decided step in the commercial advancement of animated, cartoons, my processes and articles for producing the aforementloned class proper-and consecutive stages a certain class of moving pictures ess which necessitated an artist making an of moving pictures make it possible by photographing living performers similar to the usual method of making moving pictures to obtain results quite similar to the moving cartoon pictures or animated cartoons here tofore' produced by cartoonists.

My invention forms a basis for practically a new branch-ofthe moving picture industry, as it now becomes possible to produce by the aid of my processes and articles, a new and distinctive type of animated cartoon pictures as rapidly and at. practically the same cost as the regular-photo-play proauctions. While the pictures made by my processes are quite similar in many ways to theanimated cartoons heretofore made with hundreds or thousands of separate drawings,

there is a marked difference in one respect inasmuch as pictures produced by my processes show the outline and perspective of the I characters or objects photographed. The

film when thrown upon the screen has the appearance orv being photographs of toy models designed to represent the different cartoon characters.

My processes consist in photographing living performers in costumes and facial makeups to represent the caricature it is desired to portray. The main portion ofmy invention lies in steps I have taken to facilitate the obtaining of a caricature or cartoon effect in the finished picture. I obtained these results by the special arrangement of costumes, make-ups of performers and backgrounds shown in the accompanying drawings and fully described hereinafter.

Before referring to the drawings it will be well to bear in mind that, as heretofore mentioned, pictures made by or with the aid of my process when projected upon the screen, show the relief and perspective of the eharacters',as it is impossible to photograph living performers and obtain the total efi'ect. of line-drawings.

Figure 1 is a'single picture from a cinematographic film produced by my processes. The steps involved in the making of this picture are as follows: The actor or performers taking the part of the clown proceeds to make-up for the scene by applying a suitable white substance to all parts of the face, ears, etc. Thevwhite wig is now slipped into place. He then proceeds to blacken the eyebrows, eyelids, nose and mouth. Black make-up substance is then applied under the chin; the edges of the ears are also blackened sothat when his face is turned from the camera the outline of the.

ear is clearly defined.

The designing and making of the costume is a very important feature and must be studied closely to obtain the desired results. Care should be taken in the selection of the material. A perfectly white cloth should be used, or, if desired, a'cloth with a yellow tint will serve the purpose, for it is sometimes necessary where certain lighting systems are employed to substitute yellow wherawhite is desired in a moving picture. There are numbers of diiferent kinds of cloth that will serve the purpose, but the cloth selected should be. of such a nature as not to show a shiny surface in the finished picture. Black tape or other dark material is sewed into place in the form of strips wherever black lines are desired. For instance, (refer to clown in Figure 1) the black shown just abovev the eyebrow and representing the bottom line of the cap, is obtained by sewing or otherwise securing a strip of black: tapev around the bottom edge of the cap. The line starting under the chin and running down the center of the coat, is obtained by sewing a strip of black tape on to the white material of the coat, The same principle applies to all other lines shown in the drawing of the clown.

If the performeror actor so made up were to stand in front of a background made of the same shade of material as that in the costume and the lighting so arranged as-to eliminate all possible shadows, the result would be exactly the same as shown in Figure 2. The outline of the clown would be scarcely discernible While the black tape which has been sewed on to the costume and the black substance applied to the features of the performer would stand out quite clearly when photographed.

' The picture illustrated in Figure 1 isobtained by the actor or performer made-up in the manner heretofore explained, being photographed against a dark background of preferably black velvet. It is evident that whether the clown is facing the camera or standing with his profile towards the lens, theoutline of his figure and'the black lines made by the tape and substance used in the make-up of facial expression will appear clear and sharp when photographed.

This principle of making up the actors and designing the costumes also applies to any other or all objects it may be desired to photograph. For instance, in the case of the musical instrument which the clown is holding, this instrument is painted a pure white, or if the costume is of a yellow tint, the instrument is painted to match the same. Black lines are then painted wherever they may prove to advantage in bringing out the line-drawing elfectinthe com pleted picture.

A silhouette efi'ect similar to the one illustrated in Figure 3 can be obtained by makingv the costume of black! material. The cloth in the costume should be of the same material as used for the background, black velvet being the most suitable material for obtaining a perfect black inproducing moving'pictures. The face, hands and the musical instrument are made-up in exactly the same manner as heretofore explained in connection with the picture of the clown in Figure 1. White buttons upon the coat and white tape to carry out the effect of the cuffs add to making the silhouettemore efiective. Figure 4 illustrates a very novel effect which may be obtained by arranging the a background through the doorway or window, it is an easy matter to arrange a curtam or frame covered with velvet a few feet arrangement, that is.

back of the door or window. The design of the background can be cut out of cardboard, cloth or other suitable material and fastened onto the velvet. If the action of the performer does not call for the use'of a door or window, that is, if the performer does not. enter the scene through the door, or has no special action calling for the dooror window being cut out of the wall of the room, it simply remains to. design the door or window and background seen therethrough directly upon the velvet used for the wall of the setting. The white line representing the outlines of the walls may be obtained by fastening white tape to the black velvet. Pictures, furniture or other stationary objects in the scene, are painted and designed to carry out the impression of a llnedrawing.

The figure of the actor or perf i'mer illustrated in Figure 4 is made-up ir. quite the same manner as the clown illustra' ed in Figure 3, only in Figure 4 the face o the actor is first blackened and white mai --up substahce applied to the eyes, nose, mouth, etc.

.Vhile I have adhered to the white lines upon black in" describing the arrangements employed in making the picture illustrated in Figure 4. it is possible toobtain a novel drawing effect by using the reverse in color black lines upon a white background.

In the description herein made of the arrangement in connection withFigure 4 of the accompanying drawings, I have described a method by which a stage setting of the interior of arooin may be made in order-to obtain line-drawing'effectin a movingpicture. I do not desire to hold thisarrangement exclusively to the producing of interior scenes; as it is evident that any number and styles of scenes may be arranged in like manner.

Figure 5 shows how an outdoor scene may be made 'from a white background with black lines. The lower dark background in this figure shows that a figure of the type here illustrated, is adaptable for use with either a light or dark background.

It should be understood that either back ground shown in Figures 4 or 5 is adapted fox-either indoor or outdoor views, andthat the different kinds of outline for the figures shown are all regarded as within the scope of this invention This invention is also capable of being applied to inanimate objects as well as living actors, which when photographed and reproduced on the moving picture screen may be made to simulate line drawings. 'It should be understood that the objects illustrated in all the figures are capable of use with a background such as shown in Figure 4. j

It will be understood that the terms animated cartoon, caricatures and line draw ings, as used in this application, refer to such as are most frequently seen in the moving picture art today, and do not include those drawings known as silhouettes wherein the outline and entire surface of. the object is of uniform and dark color. i

1. 'lheprocess of producing moving pictures which comprises photographing objects infront of a dark background, portions of said objects being white or light colored with only the outline of distinctive features thereof blackened or darkened whereby upon projecting the photographed objects upon a screen they will appear substantially as line-drawings representing caricatures or cartoons.

2. An article of manufacture for use in the production of moving pictures comprising a background formed of dark material having lines thereon in white or light colored material delineating the essential characteristics of the outline of a scene or'structure, whereby to form the background of the. completed picture-so as to give the picture the appearance of a line-drawing. a

3. An article of manufacture foriuse in the production of moving pictures before dark backgrounds comprising an object, a portion of which is formed of white or light colored material with the shapes of various photographs of which when-projected upon a screen will appear as line drawings or car- -icatures.

5. The process of producing animated cartoons, which comprises covering a three dimensional object in a uniform shade/or color. outlining the distinctive features and boundaries of said object with colored lines in contrast to 't-hecovering of the object and photographing said object before a back ground having substantiallv the same actinic value as the covering of the object for reproduction in moving pictures. v

6. The process of making living actors appear as line drawings or caricatures which comprises covering the actor in a substantially uniform shade and outlining only the distinctive features with lines in contrast to the uniform shade of the covering. to indicate the shape thereof and photographing said actor before a background having substantially the same actinic value as his covering.

T. The process of producing animated caricatures or line drawings which comprises covering a living actor in white delineating the shape of the principal features in con trast to thewhite and photographing the actor in front of a background in strong contrast to the white.

8. The process of producing moving pic tures simulating animated cartoons consisting in producing by photography upon a moving film and before a background having a determined actinic value a series of pictures of a living actor whose clothing possesses substantially the same actinic value as that of the background, the characteristics of the costume and features of the actor to be delineated being indicated by lines having an essentially different actinic value from that of the background.

9. The process of making animated cartoons or line drawings ivhich comprises covering a living actor in white, delineating the principal features and boundaries of his face and costume with black lines to resemble :1 line drawing and photographing the actor before a white background.

Rochester, N. Y., June 23, 1919.

FRANCES S. LEDERER, AJnvim'stmt/iw of the estate of Carl F.

Lerlerer, deceaaed 

